Developing apparatus



Jan. 2,1940. L. aANDREws DEVELOPING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 27, 1958 44 :ATTORNEYS.

Z, 1940- Q L. D. ANDREWS ,185,620

DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 27, 1 938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 12 13 34 .1;3 mmrsms INVENTOR- fl Z; i m, m 9&u

I w I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,185,620 DEVELOPING APPARATUS LewisD. Andrews, St.

Marys, Pa... assignor to Stackpole Carbon Company, St. Marys, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application October 2'7, 1938, Serial No.237,193

Claims.

guiding an undeveloped exposed film from the. cartridge to thedeveloping area. Rotatably mounted in the developing area of the tank isa reel provided with spiral grooves in the inner faces .of its flangesfor'receiving the opposite edges of the film. The reelis made in twoparts 2o separable at the hub, the two parts of the hub being adapted togrip the leading end of the film between them. The upper flange of thereel serves as a cover for the developing area of the tank. The rest ofthe tank is normally .closed by another cover, except for an openingwhich is left over the cartridge-receiving area for receiving acylindrical member. This member, which extends down into the tank, isadapted to rotatably receive the film cartridge, and is pro vided with aslot in its side wall through which the'film passes to the guidingmeans, The top of the cylindrical member is normally closed by arotatable knob which is adapted to be detachably connected to the top ofthe-cartridge. After a the undeveloped filmhas been wound onto the reelby turning'the reel, the trailing end of the film is torn from thecartridge by turning the reel and cartridge in opposite directions. Thecartridge-receiving member is then turned so that its slot can not admitlight to the developing chamber, whereupon the empty cartridge isremoved. The developing liquid is then poured into thetank through theempty cylindrical member. The preferred embodiment of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan viewof my developer; .Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof taken on theline n n of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view o gih-e tank with theintermediate cover and upper tinge 50 of the spool removed and with thefilm cartridge and its housing shown in section; and Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of the developer taken on the line IV-'IV of Fig.1-.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, 55 part of the side wall ofthe tank forms a wall ior the major portion of a circular area I inwhich exposed film is developed, as,willbe described presently. The sidewall of the tank at its opposite end forms all but about ninety degreesof the wall of a smaller circular area 2 adapted 5 to receive acartridge 3 containing a roll of undeveloped film 4. The top of thetank's intermediate area 5, which connects the open sides of I thedeveloping and cartridge areas, is normally closed by a removable cover6 that rests in 10 recesses I and 8 formed in the top of the tanks vside wall. The inner edge of this cover is arcuate and, together withthe arcuate side wall of the developing chamber, forms a complete circleprovided with upstanding ribs 9 and H. As shown 15 in Fig. 4, the bottomof the tank at the center of the developing area is provided withcircular boss l2 which projects up into a circular opening l3 in thebottom of a film-developing reel l4 removably disposed in the tank. Thisboss not only 20 positions the reel in the tank, but also serves as abearing that prevents the lower flange. l6 of the reel from touching thebottom of the tank. In accordance with this invention, the upper flangeI 1 of the reel forms a cover for the developing area of the tank. Thatis, the upper flange extends outwardly across ribs 9 and H, and isprovided near its edge with a circular recess l8 for receiving them toprevent light from entering the tank between the ribs and reel. 80

The inner face oi. each flange of the reel is provided with a spiralgroove 2| for receiving I the edge portions ofa film in a well-knownmanner. According to this invention, the reel is divided into two partswhich are detachably connected together at its hub. For this purpose thecenter of each flange is provided with an inwardly extending boss, thelower one 22 being hollow for telescopically receiving the upper one 23.To assure the ends of the spiral grooves being "opposite each other whenthe reel is assembled, the upper boss is provided with an integrallongitudinal key 24 that slides down into a slot 26 in the wall of thehollow boss. The wall of the hollow boss is provided with a longitudinalslot -21 for receiving the leading end of the film, the tip of the filmbeing bent over and wedged between the two bosses when they aretelescoped.- Preferably, there are about three of these slots so thatthe solid boss can be wedged in the hollow boss without danger ofbreaking it.

Another feature of this invention is that in the cartridge-receivingarea 2 of the tank a hollow cylindrical housing is suspended by aperipheral flange 32 at its upper end which rests on cover 8 and theside wall of the tank. This housing is adapted to rotatably receive afilm cartridge and is provided with a vertical slot 33 open at its lowerend and through which the film is drawn from the usual slot in the sideof the cartridge. The hub 34 at the bottom of the cartridge is rotatablymounted in a circular recess 35 in the bottom of the tank. The upperportion of the cartridge housing engages the side wall of the tank, butits lower portion is decreased in diameter to provide a space forreceiving an extension 36 of a metal guide member 31. This guide memberis of the customary shape for bowing the film transversely to decreaseits width by lifting knob 38.

so that it can enter the reel between its flanges. The extension of theguide member is bent around the cylindrical housing which hoids iAlthough extension 36 and the he rotated relative to each other, theinn".- vents the extension from. sliding housing.

During the winding of the tridge to the reel, the top of ho o by a knob38 in order to prevent ile from em ing the housing. This knob noposition by a flange 39 extending upwardly from the outer edge of thehousings peripheral 32, and has a depending split boss M (Fig. i) forprojecting into the hollow upper and of the film cartridge andfrictionally gripping it.

To load this developer, the leading end of the film is pulled from thefilm cartridge and then housing 3E is slipped down over the cartridgewith the end of the film extending through slot 33. Knob 33 may then beplaced on top of the housing with its split boss 4i projecting into thecartridge. The film is threaded through guide 31 after which thesemembers are piaced in operative position in the tank followed by cover6. The leading end of the film is passed through one of the slots 21 inthe hollow boss 22 of inner reel flange IS, the only part of the reelthat is in the tank at this time, and is clamped place by inserting thesolid boss 23 of upper reel flange I! in the lower boss. This likewiseassembles the reel and closes the top of the developing chamber.light-proof and the film can be wound onto the reel by turning it by theknob 42 on top of it. After the exposed film has been transferred fromthe film cartridge to the reel in this manner, knobs 38 and 42 areturned in opposite directions to apply tension to the film and cause itsweakened trailing end to tear from the cartridge spool. Housing 3| isthen turned by a lateral lug 43 at its upper end (Fig. 1) to bring itsslot 33 adjacent the side wall of the tank so that light can not enterthe developing area of the tank when the film cartridge is removed fromthe housing Developing liquid is supplied to the tank by pouring it inthrough empty housing 3| which is spaced from the bottom of the tank.The film can be agitated while immersed in the developing fiuid bymerely turning reel ll by means of knob 42.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple and construction of my invention and. have illustrated anddescribed what I now consider to represent its best embodiments.However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of theappended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically illustrated and described.

' I claim:

1. A daylight-loading film developer compris- The entire tank is nowclosed and.

ing a tank having a bottom wall and an upright side wall, a removablefilm-receiving reel rotatably mounted within one end of the tank andhaving an upper fiange forming a cover for the underlying area of thetank, means spaced laterally from said reel and mounted within theopposite end of the tank for rotatably supporting a film cartridgetherein, a separate removable cover for the cartridge-receiving area ofthe tank, a guide member disposed in the intermediate area of the tankbetween said means and reel for guiding film from the cartridge to thereel, and a cover for said intermediate area.

2. 'A daylight-loading film developer comprising a tank having a bottomwall and an upright side Wall, a removable film-receiving reel rotatably mounted within one end of the tank and having an upper flangeforming a cover for the underlying area of the tank, acartridge-receiving member spaced laterally from said reel and.retatably mounted within the opposite end of the tank, said member beingprovided in its side wall with a film-receiving slot, a rotatable covermounted on said member and adapted to be detachably connected to theupper end of a film cartridge disposed therein, a guide member disposedin the intermediate area of the tank between said cartridge-receivingmember and reel for guiding film from the cartridge to the reel. and astationary removable cover for said intermediate area.

3. A daylight-loading film developer comprising a tank having a bottomwall and an upright side wall, a removable film-receiving reel rotatablymounted within one end of the tank and having an upper flange forming acover for the underlying area of the tank, a cylindricalcartridge-receiving member spaced laterally from said reel and rotatablydisposed within the opposite end of the tank, a film-guiding memberdisposed in the intermediate area of the tank between said cylindricalmember and reel, a stationary removable cover for said intermediatearea, the upper end of said cylindrical member being provided with aflange resting on said stationary cover and the sidewall of the tank forsupporting the member, the side wall of said cylindrical member beingprovided with a filmreceiving slot, and a. separate removable cover forsaid cylindrical member.

4. A daylight-loading film developer comprising a tank having a bottomwall and an upright side wall, a removable film-receiving reel rotatablymounted within one end of the tank and having an upper flange forming acover for the underlying area of the tank, a cartridge-receiving memberspaced laterally from said feel and rotatably mounted within theopposite end of the tank, said member being provided in its side wallwith a film-receiving slot, a rotatable cover mounted on said member andadapted to be detachably connected to the upper end of a film cartridgein said member, a guide member supported at one end by saidcartridge-receiving member and projecting into the intermediate areabetween the cartridge-receiving member and the reel, and a stationaryremovable cover for said intermediate area.

5. A daylight-loading film developer comprising a tank having a bottomwall and an upright side wall, a removable film-receiving reel rotatablymountedwithin one end of the tank and having an upper fiange forming acover for the underlying area of the tank, a cylindricalcartridge-receiving member spaced laterally from said areacao reel androtatably disposed within the opposite I stantially in engagement withsaid stationary cover and side wall of the tank, the lower portion ottheside wall of said cylindrical member being of reduced thickness toprovide a space between it and the side wall of the tank, said filmguide having an extension encircling said cylindrical member in saidspace, and a cover for the cylindrical member.

6. A daylight-loading fllm developer comprising a tank having a bottomwall and an upright side wall, a removable film-receiving reel rotatablymounted within one end of the tank and having an upper flange forming acover for the underlying area of the tank, a cartridge-receiving memberspaced laterally from said reel and rotatably mounted within theopposite end of the tank, the side wall of said member being providedwith a film-receiving slot, a rotatable cover mounted on said member andadapted to be detachably connected to the upper end of a film cartridgein the member, the bottom of the tank being provided with a recessfor'receiving the hub of the fllm cartridge, a guide member dis-. posedinthe area of the tank between said cartridge-receiving member and reelfor guiding him from the cartridge to the reel, and a cover 1 for saidintermediate area.

7. A daylight-loading fllm developer comprising a tank having a bottomwall and an upright side wall, a removable film-receiving reel rotatablymounted within one end of the tank and having an upper flange forming acover for the underlying area of the tank, a cylindricalcartridge-receiving member spaced from said reel and rotatably disposedwithin the opposite end of the tank, a film-guiding member disposed inthe intermediate area in'the tank between said cylindrical member andreel, a stationary removable cover for said intermediate area, the upperend of said cylindrical member having a peripheral flange resting onsaid stationary cover and the side wall of the tank for supporting it,the outer edge of said flange being provided with an upstanding flange,and a knob rotatably mounted on said peripheral flange and provided witha central depending portion adapted to project into the upper end of afilm cartridge in said cylindrical member and to irictionally grip thecartridge.

8. A daylight-loading fllm developer comprising a tank having a bottomwall and an upright side wall, a removable film-receiving reelrotatablymounted within one end of the tank and having an upper flangeforming a cover for the underlying area of the tank, means spacedlaterally from said reel for rotatably supporting a flhneartridgewithintheoppositeendofthetank,

a separate removable cover for the cartridge-receiving area of the tank,a guide member disposed in the intermediate area of the tank betweensaid means and reel for guiding film from the cartridge to the reel, anda cover for said intermediate area, the inner face of each flange of thereel being provided with a spiral film-receiving groove, said reel beingformed in two parts with an axial boss projecting inwardly from each Iflange, and one of said bosses being hollow for telescopically receivingthe other boss and being provided with a longitudinal slotfor receivingthe leading end of a film, said bosses being adapted to wedge saidleading end between them.

9. A daylight-loading film developer comprising a tank having a bottomwall and an upright side wall, a removable film-receiving reel rotatablymounted within one end of the tank and having an upper flange forming acover for the underly g area of the tank, means spaced laterally fromsaid reel for rotatably supporting a film cartridge within the oppositeend of the tank, a separate removable cover for the cartridge-receivingarea of the tank, a guide member disposed in the intermediate area ofthe tank between said means and reel for guiding film from the cartridgeto the reel, and a cover for said intermediate area, the inner face ofeawh flange of the reel being provided with a spiral film-receivinggroove, said reel being formed in two parts with an axial bossprojecting inwardly from each flange, and one of said bosses beinghollow for telescopically receiving the other boss and being providedwith a longitudinal slot for receiving the leading end of a fllm, saidbosses being adapted to wedge said leading end between them, and saidbosses being provided with a registering key and slot to assure correctpositioning of the two spiral grooves relative to each other. i

10. A daylight-loading fllm developer comprising a tank having a bottomwall and an upright side wall, a removable film-receiving reel rotatablymounted within one end of the tank and having an upper flange forming acover for the underlying area of the tank, means spaced laterally fromsaid reel for rotatably supporting a film cartridge within the oppositeend of the tank, a separate removable cover for the cartridge-receivingarea of the tank, a guide member disposed in the intermediate area ofthe tank between said means and "reel for guiding film from thecartridge to the reel, and a cover for said intermediate area, the innerface of each flange of the reel being provided with a spiralfilm-receiving groove, said reel being formed in two parts with an axialboss projecting inwardly from each flange, and one of said bosses being,hollow for telescopically receiving the other boss and being providedwith a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal slots extendinginwardly from the free end of the boss, at least one of said slots beingadapted to receive the leading end-f a film, said bosses being adaptedto wedge said leading end between them.

- LEWIS D. ANDREWS.

